Background
Cell surface A33 antigen, also known as glycoprotein A33, is a single-pass type I membrane protein which is expressed in normal gastrointestinal epithelium and in 95% of colon cancers. GPA33 contains oneIg-like C2-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain and oneIg-like V-type (immunoglobulin-like) domain. The open reading frame encodes a 319-amino acid polypeptide having a putative secretory signal sequence and 3 potential glycosylation sites. The predicted mature protein has a 213-amino acid extracellular region, a single transmembrane domain, and a 62-amino acid intracellular tail. Intracellular traffic and recycling to the cell surface appear to play a major role in GPA33 function and to have an influence on its surface density superseding translational regulation. GPA33 has become a promising target of immunologic therapy strategies, but its biologic function and potential role in tumorigenesis are unknown. EpCAM protein and GPA33 mRNA expressions are specific and sensitive markers of Barrett's metaplasia (BM). GPA33 may also play a role in cell-cell recognition and signaling.
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